Analysis How wartime urgency pushed Iran to court Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan Tehran's push for a regional security order independent of Washington could be gaining diplomatic momentum, but the Islamic Republic has competing, if not conflicting, strategic priorities with the countries it hopes to engage. By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Saudi oil infrastructure in crosshairs as Houthis claim Ras Tanura strike Ras Tanura is home to the kingdom’s largest refinery and one of the world’s most important oil export terminals. Saudi Arabia
Explainer As parliament approves, what's driving Egypt's 'defensive' support to Saudi Arabia? Egypt, which has one of the region's largest militaries, is reliant on Saudi investment and ties the kingdom's security to its own. Egypt
Saudi Arabia’s KBS, top Turkish and Pakistani officials hold rare meeting in Iran: What to know In first such gathering, Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman will join Pakistani army chief Asim Munir and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin for talks with Iranian officials amid fears of renewed US and Israeli attacks against Iran. Iran
Analysis From Hormuz to data centers: How Iran’s threats are raising stakes of renewed war By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Analysis How Netanyahu could attack Iran to force Israel into unity government after elections By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Foreign troops' future in Iraq uncertain as clashes continue Tension between Tehran and Washington has some Iraqis worried about foreign troops withdrawing from Iraq, although the United States had said it has no intention of leaving the country in Iranian hands. Iraq
Protests break out in Iran after admission of accidental plane downing Protests erupted in Iran after the government admitted, after three days of denial, that it had mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane; some of the demonstrations arose out of vigils for the victims. United States
Iraqi PM quietly working to keep US troops in country Iraq’s caretaker prime minister privately does not want US troops to withdraw, several American and Iraqi sources familiar with the situation told Al-Monitor. Iraq
Pakistan seeks to mitigate US-Iran tensions Pakistan, wary in part of tensions between Washington and Tehran negatively affecting the reconciliation process in Afghanistan, has offered to mediate between the United States and Iran after the recent round of violence between them. Saudi Arabia
Rouhani adviser says US claims on plane crash ‘media war' Iranian officials claim they are working with Ukrainian authorities to investigate the plane crash in Tehran but claim US accusations that they shot the plane down themselves is a “media war.” United States
Iraqi protesters decry Iranian and US interference Over three months since anti-government protests began in Iraq, attention has shifted to geopolitical fears of regional war. Iraq
Trump's threat to Iran's antiquities sets off global uproar With 24 recognized sites, Iran is most heavily represented Middle Eastern country on UNESCO's list of world heritage sites. United States
Lebanon reacts following Nasrallah speech Supporters of Lebanon’s Hezbollah were divided over its leader’s speech following the killing of top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani, with some saying Hezbollah must react and others saying the Iranian strikes at the military bases in Iraq were enough. Lebanon
Bernie Sanders, Ilhan Omar push Democrats left on Iran war powers The Congressional Progressive Caucus has been instrumental in setting the Democratic agenda to push back against President Donald Trump’s Iran policy. Yemen
Dueling Middle East lobbyists rush to praise Trump for Soleimani killing Foreign agents seeking to sway the president on behalf of both warring factions in Libya are among the cheer squad. United States
Iraqi protests got caught in an Iranian-American war The escalation between US and Iran left Iraqis trapped with many nightmares threatening their protests, economy and country’s unity. Iraq
Ankara struggles to adapt to new geopolitical reality after Soleimani’s killing After a brief wait-and-see period in the wake of Qasem Soleimani’s killing, Turkey appears inclined to try a mediator’s role between the United States, Iran and Iraq. Syria
